1996 founder of CASHS multicultural society endorses GSA for students

CHAMBERSBURG -- One of the founders of Chambersburg Area Senior High School's multicultural society says it's time for the school district to accommodate a Gay-Straight Alliance.

Letrell Crittenden helped found the multicultural society in 1996, just months before his graduation. The needs of students who formed that club 17 years ago and the needs of students trying to form a GSA today are completely different, Crittenden says.

Crittenden wrote the constitution for the club.

"We wanted to form that group to deal with issues related to people of color and for racial diversity," Crittenden said. "There was nothing related to sexual orientation in the constitution.

"If you look at the issues the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community is facing, a multicultural club can not serve the needs of the LGBT community. We wanted a safe place to talk about issues of race among people of color or people concerned with diversity. A multicultural club is not designed to be a safe space for people who feel threatened in the LGBT community."

Previously, at least one school board member told Public Opinion that potential GSA members could get what they were looking for out of the multicultural club.

The school board will address the topic again during a 7 p.m. meeting at Chambersburg Area Middle School North. Last week, Assistant Superintendent Eric Michael said the board would reconsider its stance on the GSA.

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The school board voted 5-4 to block a GSA forming in February. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania threatened a lawsuit if the school board did not reverse its decision. March 20 was the ACLU's deadline.

The CASHS alum, who is a visiting associate professor of mass communications at Lincoln University in Philadelphia, says a multicultural society member "may not feel comfortable opening up about gay and lesbian issues in that space."

He supports the new club.

"LGBT students see the space as a separate club option to express concerns or grievances among the school population," said Crittenden.

Administration temporarily approved the club March 20 for the days leading up to the meeting. Assistant Superintendent Eric Michael said the topic would be addressed under "old business."

While it doesn't state a voting topic, a section of "old business" does appear on the school board's agenda immediately following awards and presentations for the district's students of the month.

Crittenden is concerned the school board may not reverse its decision based on the presence of a multicultural society at the school.
Each club fits a specific purpose, according to a group's constitution.

"For example, the Bible club was created because students didn't feel they had a safe place to talk about faith," said Crittenden. "That's the purpose of the club. I think that's wonderful."

Crittenden said he thought the multicultural society had an impact on racial tension at the school in the mid-1990s.

He said he was surprised to hear his alma mater didn't already have a GSA in place.

"This is what's disappointing to me," said Crittenden. "CASHS is behind the times. I'm shocked they don't have one by now."

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Brian Hall can be reached at 262-4811 and bkhall@publicopinionnews.com, or follow him on Twitter @bkhallpo.

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